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Drexel University Named One of the Countrys Most Eco-Friendly Schools by the Princeton Review

Drexel University Named One of the Countrys Most Eco-Friendly Schools by the Princeton Review

April 27, 2010

Drexel University has been named one of the most environmentally responsible universities by the Princeton Review and Green Building Council, according to the publication’s newly developed “Guide to 286 Green Colleges.”

The guide is the first comprehensive college guidebook surveying hundreds of institutions worldwide to provide a listing of schools with the most environmentally-responsible campuses and school-wide commitment to sustainability.

“It’s all about the build at Drexel University. Drexel has become the first university in the country to require the use of independent environmental impact monitoring software for all new construction projects,” the publication wrote in citing Drexel as a top eco-friendly school.

The publication also pointed to Drexel’s new recreation center, which is the first building in Philadelphia to have total storm water management, collecting and using rainwater in the building’s toilets.

“Thirty percent of food expenditures go toward local or organic food and the school boasts an overall waste diversion rate of 40 percent,” the guidebook said of Drexel’s green efforts. “In 2002, Drexel was one of the first universities to purchase wind power, leading to an estimated environmental benefit that is equivalent to planting about 17,700 acres of trees, or not driving over 45 million miles.”

The Princeton Review’s “Guide to 286 Green Colleges” looks at an institution’s commitment to building certification using USGBC’s LEED green building certification program; environmental literacy programs; formal sustainability committees; use of renewable energy resources; recycling and conservation programs, and more.
Drexel has integrated environmentally-friendly design into all of its latest construction projects. The new residence hall features a “vegetated” roof to reduce heat absorption, help manage storm water as well as insulate the building. The $70-million Constantine Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building, currently under construction, will feature a living biofilter, known as a “Bio Wall”, for energy efficiency and improved air quality. Even the smallest of current projects such as a new Dining Terrace, include shade devices that eliminate heat and reduce energy consumption.

The University also offers academic programs on green topics including environmental policy and formed a campus-wide, student-led initiative called Drexel Green to empower students to bring new green technologies and initiatives to campus.

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News Media Contacts:

Noah Cohen, for Drexel University
215-895-2705, 267-228-5599 (cell) or noah.cohen@drexel.edu